Ford reveals S-Max concept ahead of 2013 Frankfurt motor show

Here's another one that'll probably go straight into the “not bound for United States shores” file: the Ford S-Max concept, which will make its grand debut at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show. Ford says the S-Max previews a “future sport activity vehicle,” which may, in fact, be contemporary PR-speak for “mini-minivan.” Look beyond the carbon-fiber interior detailing (and add some door handles) and you'll see a vehicle that looks more or less production-ready. The S-Max concept isn't too wildly sculpted, sharing styling cues with current Fords (including the Fiesta, Escape/Kuga, C-Max and Fusion/Mondeo) -- from the creases on the hood to the high, hexagonal grille to the stainless steel trim surrounding the greenhouse.

BMW recalls 1.3 million 5 & 6 Series cars

BMW recall 1.3 million 5 & 6 Series BMW is to recall 1.3 million 5 Series and 6 Series cars built between 2003 and 2010 to fix a battery cable cover. It’s been an expensive year for BMW on the recall front. January saw MINI recall 235,000 Cooper and JCW models to fix a faulty auxiliary water pump on the turbo, and now a massive 1.3 million BMW 5 Series and 6 Series cars are being recalled. The cars affected are the BMW 5 and 6 Series built between 2003 and 2010 where BMW has discovered a battery cable cover in the boot may have been mounted incorrectly.

Adaptive steering for big Fords arrives on new Edge

By Tim Pollard Motoring Issues 30 May 2014 17:43 Ford today announced all its future large cars will have adaptive steering as standard - letting reps flick their wrists on the way in to the Welcome Break on the M4, yet tip their fingers when changing lanes on the London orbital. It's a further sign that what was once the high-tech preserve of the German brands is now firmly in the mainstream. BMW was one of the brands which pioneered variable-ratio power steering; in essence, it changes the ratio between the driver's inputs at the wheel and the rate at which turns are made at the rack.